Magnetic disk assembly

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for a magnetic disk assembly includes a cover for enclosing a multiplicity of magnetic disks, the assembly having top, side, and bottom portions, wherein the side portion has an aperture for permitting the insertion of a magnetic transducer, the bottom portion has means for connecting the enclosed disk assembly to a drive unit and a removable base for covering the aperture in the side portion.

United States Patent Crouch et a1.

[ 51 ,llan.1%,ll972 MAGNETIC DISK ASSEMBLY Inventors: Howard S. Crouch,Chandlers Ford; Hugh G. Dickie, North Baddesley; Albert H. Metcalie,Fareham; Leo J. Rigbey, Winchester, all of England Assignee:International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.

Filed: Mar. 18, 1970 Appl. No.: 20,780

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 26, 1969 Great Britain..l5,818/69 11.8. C1. ..206/62 R, 179/1002 Z, 220/55 MG, 206/D1G. 33,340/1741 C Int. Cl ..lB65d 21/02, 865d 45/00, G1 1b 1/02, G1 lb 11/02,G11b17/26, G1 lb 23/04,G1 lb 25/04 Field oi Search ..206/62 R, 62 P, 52F, 46 PP,

206/D1G. 33; 220/55 MG, 44 A; 340/l74.l C, 174.1 R; 179/1002 Z; 274/4 H,4 R, 47

Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, J r. Attorney--Hanifin and Jancinand Nathan N. Kallman [5 7] ABSTRAKIT A cartridge for a magnetic diskassembly includes a cover for enclosing a multiplicity of magneticdisks, the assembly having top, side, and bottom portions, wherein theside portion has an aperture for permitting the insertion of'a magnetictransducer, the bottom portion has means for connecting the encloseddisk assembly to a drive unit and a removable base for covering theaperture in the side portion.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing lFigures PmENIfinmmarz 3,635,608

SHEET 1 OF 5 HOWARD S. CROUCH HUGH G. DICKIE ALBERT H. METCALFE LEO J.RIGBEY /Vala l1. Kai/man ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 1 81972 sum 0F 5 FIG. 5

mimmmeezz 3635508 SHEET 5 OF 5 1 Y II V A 5 DRAW PLATE MOVEMENT FIG. 6B

MAGNETIC DISK ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to a novel and improvedcartridge for a magnetic disk assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art Random access disk memories have beenused extensively in data processing systems. Such disk memories employ adisk assembly of one or more magnetically coated disks which can bemounted on a drive unit for recording on and reproducing data from thesurfaces of the disk or disks. A cartridge or an enclosure or a cover isprovided for the disk assembly to facilitate handling and storage, andto protect the surface of the disks during installation and removal fromthe drive unit. The cartridge prevents human contact with the disksurfaces and seals the disk assembly from airborne contaminants.Provision has been made to allow the necessary connections to be madewith the drive unit, including the introduction of one or moretransducers into close proximity to the disk surface and the attachmentof the disk assembly to a drive shaft for rotation of the disk assembly.

Cartridges have been provided with a removable cover which can bedetached when the base of the cartridge is attached to the drive unit,the base of the cartridge being rotated by the drive unit with the diskassembly. A cartridge has also been provided which encloses the diskassembly even when the disk assembly is attached to the drive unit. Thistype of cartridge is provided with an access door which is automaticallyopened when the cartridge is installed in the drive unit to allow forthe insertion of a transducer. The cartridge is designed so that thedisk assembly can rotate relative to the cartridge when the cartridge isinstalled in the drive unit and so that the disk assembly is fixedrelative to the cartridge when it is removed from the drive unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide anovel and improved magnetic disk assembly for use in a magnetic diskdrive.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetic disk assemblywhich is easily connected to the drive unit of a disk file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 18 show the cartridge embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section along the line AA in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 shows the cartridge with its base removed;

FIG. 4 shows the cartridge positioned on the drive unit;

FIG. 5 shows the handle for the cartridge in greater detail; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the operation of releasing the cover of thecartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. IA, 18 and 2 illustrate acartridge I having a cover 2 enclosing a magnetic disk 3 and a base 4surrounding the lower part of the cover. The cover 2 and the base 4 areheld together by four pot magnets 5 (FIG. 1B) molded into the base 4 andspaced at 90 intervals, and an armature 6 attached to the disk (FIG. 2).A rubber sealing ring 7 is interposed between the cover and theperiphery of the base. The cover 2 consists ofa molding 211 having a topand a side portion, and a bottom plate 2b. The top of the cover has awell 2c (FIG. 1B) in which a folding handle 8 is located. The handle canbe folded flush with the top of the cover to facilitate storage andstacking of the cartridges.

The magnetic disk 3 is clamped by a plate 9 to a flexible diaphragm I0.The flexible diaphragm has a tapered hole 11 at its center which engagesa spindle of the: drive unit. The armature 6 contacts the magnets 5 whenthe cover 2 and base I are fitted together. When the cartridge ispositioned on the drive unit, the base is removed and the armature 6contacts a magnet on the drive unit.

The handle 8 serves for carrying the cartridge, for releasing the base 4from the cover 2, and for releasing the cover from the drive unit. Thehandle 8 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. When the handle is usedfor carrying the cartridge, the handle 8 is merely raised from the wellin the cover. When the handle is to be used for releasing the cover fromthe base or for releasing the cover from the drive unit, a latch I2 onthe handle is operated which causes drawbar 13 (FIG. 2) to be raised.

Drawbar I3 is fixed to a pair of pillars I4 of a drawplate I5 which islocated inside the cover 2. A pair of springs I6 biases the drawplate toa position one-sixteenth inch below the clamping plate 9. As the handleis lifted to release the cover, the drawbar and drawplate moveone-sixteenth inch to engage the clamping plate 9, a furtherone'sixteenth inch is taken up as the cover deflects, and finally afurther one-sixteenth inch movement breaks the magnetic attractionbetween the armature 6 and the magnets 5 and releases the cover. Aprojection 17 on the cover prevents the cover from deflecting more thanone-sixteenth inch and four rubber buffers 18 molded into the cover arepositioned to engage the clamping plate 9 so that the disk is heldfirmly to the cover when the base is released.

FIG. 3 shows the cover of the cartridge released from the base. Theclamping plate 9 is in contact with the buffers I8. Two apertures 19 and20 are provided in the side of the cover to permit the insertion of thetransducers and cleaning brushes for the surfaces of the disk,respectively. Slots 21 are provided for locating the cover at thecorrect angular position on the drive unit.

FIG. 4 shows the cartridge being positioned on a drive unit 24. Thetapered hole 11 in the flexible diaphragm is located on the conical endof the drive spindle 22. Ring magnet 23 mounted on the drive spindlecontacts the armature 6 on the flexible diaphragm and pulls the diskfirmly into engagement with the drive spindle. Some deflection of theflexible diaphragm (approximately 0.010 inch) occurs to insure accuratelocation of the tapered hole II on the spindle 22. In operation,filtered air is circulated from the center to the outside of the diskand through one of the holes I9 or 20 by rotation of the disk itself.

The handle is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. The drawbar I3 ispivotally mounted on a lever 25 by pins 26, the lever 25 being pivotallymounted inside the handle 3 by pins 27. The latch 12 consists of a partI2a on the outside of the handle 3 and part 12b on the inside. The parts12a and I212 are jointed by two pairs of spring fingers 28 on part I2awhich engage slots 29 on part 12b. The latch I2 is held in a left-handposi' tion by a spring 30 fixed at one end to the handle by a pin 31.When the handle is used for carrying the cartridge, the handle is liftedto the position shown in FIG. 5 and no movement of the drawbar 13occurs. However, when the handle is in the lower or rest position, thelatch I2 can be moved to the right by pressing part 12a so that a catch32 on part 1% engages projection 33 on lever 25. If the handle is liftedfrom the horizontal, with the catch in this position, the drawbar I3 israised by the lever 25. During the raising of drawbar 13, the catch 32is located behind two lifting lugs 34 on the handle which support thecatch during the raising of the drawbar I3.

In the lower or rest position of the handle a projection 35 is situatedin the slot 36. When the catch 32 has engaged the projection 33 and thehandle 8 is lifted to the vertical, the projection 35 abuts the far side37 of drawbar I3, i.e., the drawbar remains in the same angular positionas the plate I2b rotates with the handle through In the verticalposition the projection 35 locks the catch 32 and projection 33 toprevent release of the drawbar until the handle is lowered.

The movement of the drawplate 15 as the handle is raised is shown inFIG. 6B. As the drawbar I3 is raised, the pillars I4 lift drawplate intocontact with the clamping plate 9 which releases the armature from themagnet.

When the cartridge has been placed on the drive unit, it has been foundadvantageous to clamp the base in an inverted position on the cover sothat its rim can provide a uniform clamping pressure to the cover. Thisalso prevents dust particles collecting inside the base and loss ormisplacement of the base when the cartridge is in use. These featuresimprove the handling of the cartridge during unloading and loading. Thecover has a rim 42 for locating the base, a stacking rim 41 (FIG. 2) anda local fingertip grip 2d (FIG. 1). The base has a matching stackingrecess 40 and a continuous fingertip grip 39. Inside the basecircumference air vents are provided to allow the cover to be removedwithout air drag as soon as the rim seal is broken. Alternatively, anair vent 38 (FIG. 2) in the base can be provided. The air vent 38 iscovered by a filter to prevent the dust particles entering thecontainer.

The disk assembly need not comprise a single disk but may includes two,three or more disks. In FIG. 4, the drive unit is shown which includes afixed disk 37 which remains permanently in the drive unit. The disks arenormally coated on both sides with magnetic material. Preferably, thecartridge incorporates a magnetic shielding material which protects thedata recorded on the disk assembly.

What is claimed is:

l. A cartridge for a magnetic disk assembly comprising:

a cover for enclosing a magnetic disk assembly having a top,

side and bottom portions;

said side portion having an aperture for permitting the insertion of atransducer;

said bottom portion having means for connecting an enclosed 7 diskassembly to a drive unit;

a removable base for covering said aperture in the side por tion;

a handle mounted on the top portion of the cover, said handle beingadapted to be folded against the top portion of said cover, said coverincluding a well into which said handle is positioned when folded, andsaid handle including means to be selectively operated for carrying saidcartridge or for releasing said base from said cover.

2. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises anaperture in the bottom of the cover, and in which the base is adapted tocover said aperture in the bottom of the cover.

3. A cartridge as in claim 1, including a magnetic disk assemblyenclosed within said cover.

4. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein the side portion of the cover hasan aperture for permitting the insertion of a cleaning brush.

5. A cartridge as in claim I, in which the cover and base are shaped toprovide a stacking ring.

6. A cartridge as in claim 1, including a rubber sealing ring betweenthe cover and the periphery of the base.

7. A cartridge as in claim 6, in which the cover and the base includeair vents to allow the cover to be removed without air drag, when theseal provided by the rubber sealing ring is broken.

8. A cartridge as in claim 6, in which the base has an air vent coveredby a filter.

9. A cartridge for a magnetic disk assembly comprising:

a cover for enclosing a magnetic disk assembly having a top,

side and bottom portions;

said side portion having an aperture for permitting the insertion of atransducer;

said bottom portion having means for connecting an enclosed diskassembly to a drive unit;

a removable base for covering said aperture in the side portion;

a handle mounted on the top portion of the cover, said handle beingadapted to be folded against the top portion of said cover, said coverincluding a well into which said handle is positioned when folded, andsaid handle including means to be selectively operated for carrying saidcartridge or for releasing said base from said cover means formagnetically attaching said base to said cover, in-

cluding an armature, and a magnet fixed to the base for contacting saidarmature when the cover and base are fitted together; and

said handle including a drawbar connected to a drawplate,

said drawplate being effective when the drawbar is actuated by thehandle to separate the armature from said magnet and drive unit.

10. A cartridge as in claim 9, wherein said drive unit includes a magneton said drive unit for engaging said armature, whereby the disk assemblycan be rotated by the drive unit.

11. A cartridge as in claim 10, in which the disk assembly includes aflexible diaphragm having a tapered hole at its center, which taperedhole is adapted to engage a conical end of a drive spindle on said driveunit.

12. A cartridge as in claim 11, in which said armature is positioned onthe periphery of said flexible diaphragm.

13. A cartridge as in claim 9, in which the handle includes means forreleasing the cover from the drive unit.

14. A cartridge as in claim 9, in which the handle has a latch which canbe operated so that the drawbar is lifted when the handle is beingoperated for releasing the cover.

15. A cartridge as in claim 14, in which the handle has a locking meanswhich prevents release of the latch so that the drawbar cannot bereleased when the handle is being operated for releasing the cover.

1. A cartridge for a magnetic disk assembly comprising: a cover forenclosing a magnetic disk assembly having a top, side and bottomportions; said side portion having an aperture for permitting theinsertion of a transducer; said bottom portion having means forconnecting an enclosed 7 disk assembly to a drive unit; a removable basefor covering said aperture in the side portion; a handle mounted on thetop portion of the cover, said handle being adapted to be folded againstthe top portion of said cover, said cover including a well into whichsaid handle is positioned when folded, and said handle including meansto be selectively operated for carrying said cartridge or for releasingsaid base from said cover.
 2. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein saidconnecting means comprises an aperture in the bottom of the cover, andin which the base is adapted to cover said aperture in the bottom of thecover.
 3. A cartridge as in claim 1, including a magnetic disk assemblyenclosed within said cover.
 4. A cartridge as in claim 1, wherein theside portion of the cOver has an aperture for permitting the insertionof a cleaning brush.
 5. A cartridge as in claim 1, in which the coverand base are shaped to provide a stacking ring.
 6. A cartridge as inclaim 1, including a rubber sealing ring between the cover and theperiphery of the base.
 7. A cartridge as in claim 6, in which the coverand the base include air vents to allow the cover to be removed withoutair drag, when the seal provided by the rubber sealing ring is broken.8. A cartridge as in claim 6, in which the base has an air vent coveredby a filter.
 9. A cartridge for a magnetic disk assembly comprising: acover for enclosing a magnetic disk assembly having a top, side andbottom portions; said side portion having an aperture for permitting theinsertion of a transducer; said bottom portion having means forconnecting an enclosed disk assembly to a drive unit; a removable basefor covering said aperture in the side portion; a handle mounted on thetop portion of the cover, said handle being adapted to be folded againstthe top portion of said cover, said cover including a well into whichsaid handle is positioned when folded, and said handle including meansto be selectively operated for carrying said cartridge or for releasingsaid base from said cover; means for magnetically attaching said base tosaid cover, including an armature, and a magnet fixed to the base forcontacting said armature when the cover and base are fitted together;and said handle including a drawbar connected to a drawplate, saiddrawplate being effective when the drawbar is actuated by the handle toseparate the armature from said magnet and drive unit.
 10. A cartridgeas in claim 9, wherein said drive unit includes a magnet on said driveunit for engaging said armature, whereby the disk assembly can berotated by the drive unit.
 11. A cartridge as in claim 10, in which thedisk assembly includes a flexible diaphragm having a tapered hole at itscenter, which tapered hole is adapted to engage a conical end of a drivespindle on said drive unit.
 12. A cartridge as in claim 11, in whichsaid armature is positioned on the periphery of said flexible diaphragm.13. A cartridge as in claim 9, in which the handle includes means forreleasing the cover from the drive unit.
 14. A cartridge as in claim 9,in which the handle has a latch which can be operated so that thedrawbar is lifted when the handle is being operated for releasing thecover.
 15. A cartridge as in claim 14, in which the handle has a lockingmeans which prevents release of the latch so that the drawbar cannot bereleased when the handle is being operated for releasing the cover.